2021 Miami Hurricanes College Football Schedule Analysis
Written by Ryan Wright
Twitter: @RyanWrightRNG
Since the last great Miami run in the early 2000’s under Larry Coker, the Hurricanes have been in a constant cycle of a three-year build up with a breakout season only to go back into the building cycle again. The winds of change appeared under Mark Richt during his first two seasons posting 19 wins but the 7-6 campaign in 2018 started the process all over again. Manny Diaz took over the program in 2019 bringing new life to the fanbase. After a 6-7 Year 1, Diaz rebounded last fall with an 8-3 run punctuated by an end-of-season No. 22 national ranking.
As is the case every September in Miami, the question arises, is this the year the Hurricanes make that turn back to their perch atop college football? The talent is there, but does the schedule dictate an opportunity to take home a Coastal title with a chance to make a College Football Playoff berth?
*Click the link for the June 2, 2021, RNG video interview with D’Eriq King
2021 Miami Hurricanes Schedule
Week 1 – Sept. 4 vs. Alabama at Mercedes-Benz Stadium – Atlanta, GA
If there was a year to catch Alabama, the 2021 season is a good time to tangle with the defending nation champs. The Crimson Tide offense will be a shell of its former self breaking in a group up front with their Heisman winning receiver and Heisman finalist at quarterback and running back off to the NFL.
Week 2 – Sept. 11 vs. Appalachian State at Hard Rock Stadium – Miami Gardens, FL
Year in and year out, one Group of Five team Power Five programs do not want to tangle with is Appalachian State. One never knows what they will get with the Mountaineers. App State is coming off a 9-3 campaign dropping road contests to Marshall, then-No. 15 Coastal Carolina and a home game against No. 25 Louisiana.
Week 3 – Sept. 18 vs. Michigan State at Hard Rock Stadium – Miami Gardens, FL
In more ways than one, this is a must-win game for the Hurricanes. Long gone are the Mark Dantonio days of winning double-digit games just about every season (2010-17). The new leader on the sidelines is Mel Tucker, and Coach Tucker has a rebuild on his hands. The Spartans were 2-5 last season with five double-digit losses but still managed to stick it to No. 13 Michigan (27-24) and No. 8 Northwestern (29-20). Playing this P5 vs. P5 game at home helps.
Week 4 – Sept. 25 vs. Central Connecticut at Hard Rock Stadium – Miami Gardens, FL
In Ryan McCarthy’s debut season with the Blue Devils, he posted an 11-2 mark but then CCSU had to opt out of the 2020 season. Should be a nice win and an opportunity to gather strength against an FCS program before going into ACC action.
Week 5 – Sept. 30 vs. Virginia at Hard Rock Stadium – Miami Gardens, FL
A quick turnaround for the Canes picking up Virginia on Thursday night. The Virginia verses Miami series has been one of streaks with both programs alternating wins since the yearly in 2004. The Hurricanes have had the upper hand winning five of the last six, but the last three meetings have been one-score games. The 2020 meeting went to the wire watching Miami pull out the 19-14 victory. The Cavaliers will come into this one battle tested having already faced North Carolina and Wake Forest.
Bye Weeks – Oct. 2nd and 9th
Week 8 – at North Carolina – Kenan Memorial Stadium – Chapel Hill, NC
After a four-game homestand and a two-week layoff, Miami gets it going again with the Tarheels. College football players and coaches may shrug off the bitterness of a defeat from the year prior, but this has to be a grudge match for Miami. UNC laid it on posting 21 points in the first quarter and did not let up adding 21 in the final frame for a 62-26 outcome. Nothing went right for Miami tallying 314 yards of total offense to North Carolina’s 778.
Week 9 – vs. NC State at Hard Rock Stadium – Miami Gardens, FL
Another thriller from the 2020 season ready to play out in 2021. The Canes rallied for 13 fourth quarter points taking home the 44-41 win off a 54-yard D’Eriq King to Michael Harley touchdown pass. The Wolfpack may be getting their feet back under them at the midway point of the season. An early nonconference game against Mississippi State on the road with a home meeting against Clemson followed by Louisiana Tech and Boston College could have this squad a little gassed.
Week 10 – at Pittsburgh – Heinz Field – Pittsburgh, PA
Pitt fans may remember this as the field goal game while Miami fans will remember this as a breakout game for tight end Will Mallory. Miami went up 21-6 early in the third quarter then took their foot of the proverbial pedal but still rolled to a 31-19 win. Coming off a 6-5 season, the Panthers are looking for a bounce-back campaign.
Week 11 – vs. Georgia Tech at Hard Rock Stadium – Miami Gardens, FL
The oddity of the 2020 season, the Coastal Division squads did not play each other. If you missed the Yellow Jackets ride last year, they finished 3-7 (3-6 ACC) picking up wins against Florida State, Louisville, and Duke. After winning three consecutive against Georgia Tech, the Yellow Jackets have won the last two meetings by a combined 13 points.
Week 12 – at Florida State – Doak Campbell Stadium – Tallahassee, FL
In a series with more nicknames like “Wide Right”, “Wide Left”, and “The Rally in Tally” than one can keep track of, the bitter Miami vs. Florida State rivalry resumes. The in-state affair that was once owned by Miami took a turn from 2010-16 seeing the Seminoles take over in the win-loss department. But the Hurricanes have won the last four meetings, including the 52-10 beatdown last fall, to go back up 33-30 all-time. A road game to Clemson followed by a meeting at home with NC State will have FSU’s attention.
Week 13 – vs. Virginia Tech at Hard Rock Stadium – Miami Gardens, FL
Despite being ranked No. 9 in the nation, Miami headed to Lane Stadium a year ago as the underdog after having 13 players unavailable for the showdown against Virginia Tech. In another heroic effort by King, he took the Canes on an 82-yard drive that was topped off by a 36-yard TD pass to Mark Pope putting Miami up 25-24 for the win.
Week 14 – vs. Duke – Wallace Wade Stadium – Durham, NC
Another big turnaround during the 2020 season was seeing Miami kick a two-game losing streak to Duke winning 48-0. The last game of the regular season for all teams is gut check time. Duke has three of their final four games at home. If all is going well, Miami could be riding a five-game winning streak, or better, ready to take on the winner of the Atlantic Division at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte.
Photo credit: Miami Herald; No. 1 D’Eriq King